(Married to Magic #3)
by Elise Kova
August 18, 2022
Goodreads Summary:
On the night of the blood moon, the Vampire Lord must die.
Floriane's position as the forge maiden of Hunter's Hamlet is one of reverence, for it is her skill that arms and protects the vampire hunters. She knows her place and is a faithful servant to the Master Hunter and her community... until the night of the blood moon. Until her brother is dying at the hands of the Vampire Lord Ruvan.
Wanting to defend her home at all costs, Floriane fights the vampire lord, ready to give her life if it means taking his. But Ruvan doesn't want to take her life... he wants her.
Kidnapped and brought to the vampire castle, Floriane is now blood sworn to the vampire lord. She is bound in mind and body to her worst enemy. But Ruvan isn't the fiend she thought he was. She learns the truth of the vampires: They are not mindless monsters, but a proud people, twisted and tortured by an ancient curse.
Ruvan believes that Floriane might be the key to ending his people's suffering. All Floriane wants is to defend her home. Loyalties are tested and the lines between truth and lie, hate and passion, are blurred.
When her dagger is at his chest, will she be able to take the heart of the man who has claimed hers?
A darkly-reimagined Snow White meets inspiration from Beauty and the Beast in an epic fantasy world of hunters, vampires, and curses that run deeper than blood. This stand alone is complete with a "happily ever after" ending. It's perfect for fantasy romance fans looking for just the right amount of steam and their next slow-burn and swoon worthy, enemies to lovers story.
Review
A Duel with the Vampire Lord grabbed me with its complex characters and convoluted plot. I also really enjoyed the writing in this one!
What I Liked:
- lovely writing
- seeing where the inspiration of the fairy tales came in
- complicated but brilliant plot twists
- the theme of self
- Floriane's inner journey
- a solid twin bond
- Ruvan's devotion to (breaking the curse on) his people
- learning about the vampir of Midscape
- the tentative feelings between Floriane and Ruvan
- a genuine camaraderie within Ruvan's covenant
- the origin and the breaking of the curse
- Floriane's conviction and sacrifice
The Not So Much:
- quite the slow build up in the beginning
- with lots of story crammed in, the timeline felt short
- it was difficult to make sense of the pieces of flashbacks without going back to reread them
"Every step is progress, even if we can't see it in the moment." (p. 185)
"Honor them, but do not tie yourself and the present to the past at the expense of moving forward." (p. 378)
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